557500 rr Firebird US 14/01/2005 12:19pm Page 1 N N AXOS This is the first recording of the Complete Original Version of Stravinsky’s most popular AXOS work, The Firebird. Among the many differences between the present recording and its predecessors is the restoration of two long, valveless trumpets on stage, each playing a single note standing out above the entire orchestra. This is a thrilling effect in all likelihood heard for the first time since 1910 on this recording. Compared to the lush DDD orchestra of The Firebird, the sonorities of Petrushka may seem brittle but harmonically, STRAVINSKY: rhythmically, and instrumentally the work is innovative on every page, a drama of great 8.557500 STRAVINSKY: power and originality. Playing Time Igor WORLD PREMIERE 78:53 RECORDING STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) The Firebird (1910)* 44:52 Petrushka 34:01 Ballet in Two Scenes (1911, Revised 1947) The Firebird • Petrushka The Firebird The Firebird • Petrushka The Firebird 1 Introduction 2:34 A Burlesque in Four Scenes 2-¡ Scene I 39:22 £-∞ First Tableau ™ Scene II 2:55 § Second Tableau ¶-ª Third Tableau www.naxos.com Made in Canada Booklet notes in English Naxos Rights International Ltd. h 1997, 1998 & º-· Fourth Tableau Philharmonia Orchestra • Robert Craft Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England, on 27th & 29th November 1996 (Firebird) and 31st January & 1st February 1997 (Petrushka) g Producer: Gregory K. Squires • Engineers: Michael Sheady (Firebird) and Alex Marcou (Petrushka) 2005 Editors: Richard Price (Firebird) and Wayne Hileman (Petrushka) • Booklet Notes: Robert Craft Publishers: Schott Music International (Firebird) Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd. (Petrushka) Previously released on MusicMasters • *World première recording 8.557500 Cover Picture: Bird of Paradise (Jar-Ptiza), cover from a symbolist and artistic journal of 8.557500 Russian émigrés, published in Berlin, 1921-22 (colour litho) (Bibliothèque des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France / Bridgeman Art Library) A full track list can be found on pages 2 and 3 of the booklet.